October 17 - comm intercept #001XP-Alpha
Slugger Six: We are falling back, the 5th Guards have had it and our right flank is wide open.
Sunray Minor: Roger that. Stay frosty Barrett, we are seeing reports it's 19th Division - regulars, not TerraSec.
Slugger Six: That explains it - these SOBs are playing for keeps. Conal had to punch out and I'm sending most of his lance back for a refit. They came in hard.
Hiss of static and garbled voices.
One Magpie: Castle! Castle! Dammit, they're all over us! We're being overrun everywhere! Oh, God - where are they coming from?
The transmission dissolves in static before returning. This time, it's just a guttural scream.
One Magpie - but the voice has changed. This one is low and deep with an almost buzzing tone:
Peace of Blake be with you, infidels.
Static
Slugger Six: What the hell is going on, Joe?
There's repeated explosions and rapid gunfire.
Slugger Six: Sunray Minor, what's happening? Where's the Colonel?
Sunray Minor: They've taken the Castle Brian. Bastards popped up everywhere - they've overrun the CP and I'm shifting anywhere I can find to this map reference. Link up if you can.
Slugger Six: what's Sunray's status? Joe, where's the Colonel?
Sunray Minor: He's taken a scratch force north to find Hogarth - the Word sent a hit team after him. They're trying to break through.
There's a sudden boom, a rolling rush of sound and then the line dissolves into static.
Transmission lost
June 23, 3084
Hunter Valley, Australian continent, Terra
Republic of the Sphere
"Look at this guy!"
Julian Dekker extended his arms wide as the gathered knot of men and women grinned at him, admiring the dark blue dress uniform and the golden commander's rank insignia at his throat.
Dekker made the round of hugs and back slaps among the group.
A good head and a half taller than everyone else in the group, Joe Paige - Lieutenant Colonel Joe Paige - was dressed in a matching uniform and was the last to step in for an embrace.
As he pulled back he flicked the silver miniature version of a Interdictor class pocket warship on Dekker's breast.
"How's it feel to command the fleet's newest ship?" He asked, stepping back.
Dekker couldn't keep the joy from his face as he accepted a flute of sparkling wine from a waitress.
"She's a beauty - just a shame we're missing out on all the action against the Cappies."
Everyone now had drinks - it was a wedding reception after all - now and Dekker looked around. Paige and his wife Amber - her in a green satin dress and him in uniform.
If you didn't look too closely you didn't notice his left hand was smooth and pink, in contrast to the rest of his sun darkened skin. Modern prosthetics were pretty believable.
Taige Barrett was in civvies - a dark suit with wine red cravat - but still looked like the Mechwarrior he was. The Republic didn't like having mercenaries inside its borders, even those who had served under Stone, and Barrett was smart enough to not flaunt his profession here on Terra.
Asha Akouayn was also in civilian clothing - a cream pants suit, belted tightly at the waist and a shawl of shifting, iridescent colours.
She excused herself, crossing the lawn to take her wife's arm. Liberty's senator June Lee was a petite Asian woman with a gorgeous mane of straight, jet black hair.
The Senator looked over at the gathered knot and nodded.
Moses Cavalli appeared at Dekker's side with a glass of sparkling wine. Unlike his CO, Barrett, he was wearing the slate grey uniform and highly polished belt the RAF spacer remembered from his time fighting alongside the Cavaliere. Apparently Cavalli didn't care what feathers he ruffled even here in Terra.
"Being here with all of you," Paige began, addressing the group, "it does make me think back to not so long ago. When we were all together."
The big man raised his glass.
"To the Colonel."
The response was instant.
"To the Colonel!"
Static
Sunray: Anyone who can hear me, this is Felix Cavalli. Form on my position, all units - on me. That's the only way we're getting through these bastards.
Vixen Four: We hear you, Sunray. We are to your 11 - holding against them. Soaking up casualties and could use some help.
Sunray: Can you come to us, Vixen?
Vixen: No, we have too many casualties to move. We do, they die. Squirting you coordinates.
Static.
Sunray: On way!
"The Colonel!"
Moses Cavalli knocked back about half his drink in a single swallow.
He was desperate to hold back his tears and was doing pretty well until Barrett dropped an arm around his shoulders and squeezed.
"It's ok kid," Cavalli's Cavaliers' CO whispered.
Cavaliers - that was something new - gone was the near unpronounceable name for something snappy in a new era of slim pickings for mercs.
But the surname had stayed - held for one day when he or Occy took over the unit.
Hiss of static and occasional explosions.
Kaiser: Cavalli! I need you right now - the gottverdammt swine are all over me! I need help
Sunray: Hogarth, we're the only thing holding this line - if we start tearing off to save your arse, the Word walks straight through here. We are-
Kaiser: I don't want to hear any more excuses - I'm being torn to pieces here, give me assistance. That's an ORDER.
Sunray: I'm moving to your position.
Static
Two Slugger: they're falling back! They're breaking off!
Slugger Six: You hear that Joe? The Word is breaking off all over our position.
Sunray Minor: I know, something's up.
There's a massive explosion and the line is filled with static.
There's a mash of voices and static.
The next voice is obviously strained, each word is a drawn out rasp and obviously difficult.
Sunray: Joe? Joe, I'm down. The Word lit off the Castle's self destruct codes.
Sunray Minor: Colonel! We're coming! Hold on!
Sunray: No. it's unstable, this whole area is about to go up-
Slugger Two: Dad! Dad we're coming! It.. it's ok.
Sunray: Stay put Mo, don't come up here. I love you, I love you both - if you ever see your mum, tell her I understand.
Slugger Three: We're coming! Hold on!
Sunray: Joe, the unit's your-
There's a huge secondary explosion and the line dissolves in static.
Transmission lost